Don Nelson: History

According to multiple reports, Don Nelson is no longer the coach of the Golden State Warriors. I was there at the Arena four years ago when Nelson sat down next to Mullin in front of a mix of media and fans and talked about still having the fire to coach and how good it felt to come back to the Bay Area. For awhile, it was clear the fire was still there. Don Nelson gave Warriors fans their greatest moment in a generation in his first season back. What came after it shouldn’t detract from that accomplishment. But as became increasingly clear from the middle of the 07-08 season onward, that fire for coaching was growing dimmer by the game. With the win record achieved at the end of last season (at the cost of better draft odds for the team), the time was right for Nelson to step away from the game. Thankfully, he took the opportunity.

Although there was increasing doubt as to whether Nelson would be gone as the season drew closer, Lacob and Guber likely recognized that some large, public change was needed to put their stamp on a new era in Warriors basketball. Firing Rowell would have been a good place to start — and should still happen — but for the average fan, it wouldn’t signify much. Letting Riley go falls under the same category, although his moves this summer have been a net positive for the team (in large part because he was able to undo earlier mistakes). The easiest move to demonstrate that things will be different post-Cohan was to let Nelson go. The timing of the ownership transition did them no favors — and will result in a test run for Keith Smart rather than the arrival of a coach from outside the current Warriors’ culture — but the move was essential for the reasons that have been discussed here and elsewhere at length for much of the past two years.

As for the future, Keith Smart wouldn’t have been my first choice to take over the team, but given the timing and all the other upheaval surrounding the roster, he’s a safe transitional choice. He should have an opportunity to demonstrate what he can do in sole control of the team — whether he can get them to play more defense, to work more within a team structure, and to execute with more consistent focus. We’ll find out starting next week what Smart hopes to do with the team, but my guess is he’ll find a receptive audience. By all accounts, he’s had solid relationships with the current Warriors players. Given the roster changes and health of the team, he’ll also have more talent at his disposal.

There will be plenty of time for Nelson reflections and to worry about the future, but for now my overwhelming emotion is hope. We’re putting history to rest.